Wednesday, December 20, 2006

FLASH: All Major Indicators Keep Tumbling, Bureau Reports

From: Scott Hauge
On Behalf Of: Small Business California
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 7:34 AM
Subject: FLASH: All Major Indicators Keep Tumbling, Bureau Reports

Please see update on workers compensation. All good news.
http://www.wcexec.com/articles/WCE01-20061220-000.htm.aspx.

Yesterday, I met Speaker Nunez's people and Senator Perata's people on the health insurance issue.They are very interested in getting the views of small business and will continue to discuss with us proposals as they move forward. As I have said the Speaker has a spot bill AB 8, which will be his vehicle for addressing the issue. This bill has no specifics at this time.

Senator Perata has a Shared responsibility bill which would require individuals to purchase insurance for themselves and their dependents and employers will also be asked to contribute. A purchasing pool called the "Connector" would be set up by The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. It would take advantage of Federal funding opportunities. Employers of course would be able to continue their own group coverage to cover their employees, but if they don't there would be some as yet undetermined cost they would have to pay for each employee.

It is estimated that 4.2 million of the currently uninsured would get coverage under this proposal. I emphasized the importance of cost containment to small business and the fears we have of anything moving forward that will place a severe burden on small business.

What are your thoughts on this? What is the message you would like me to send to the Governor, Speaker Nunez and Senator Perata? At this point Small Business California does not have a position on any bills and won't until more details are put forward. Senator Perata is to be applauded for putting something forth that the Governor can work with, but the devil is always in the details.

If you would like a more complete summary of the proposal let me know and I will send it to you.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Dennis Trinidad

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 6:28 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: Dennis Trinidad

It is with great sadness that I report to you that Dennis Trinidad, the state Small Business Advocate has resigned. I think today is his last day.
Dennis has been a great friend for Small Business California and all small businesses in the state of California. I have been involved in small business advocacy for going on 25 years and Dennis would be without doubt one of the best people I have ever worked with in advocating the interest of small business. He cares deeply about small business and really wanted to have the voice of small business heard in Sacramento and around the state.
I would encourage you to send an email to Dennis today thanking him for all his efforts.
He can be reached at Dennis.Trinidad@OPR.CA.GOV
Dennis, you have a lot of friends around the state and thank you for all your efforts on our behalf.

IRS Stakeholder Liaison Staff List

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 6:38 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: IRS Stakeholder Liaison Staff List

Please find contacts if you have any questions about Federal tax issues. They also are available to meet with groups to discuss these issues and they welcome your email.
Things are relatively quite in Sacramento right now as the session is closed. Look forward to next year being a big year in the discussion of how to deal with the medically uninsured. The Governor has indicated that he will be making a major announcement on this issue at his state of the state message and Small Business California has been meeting with his point people providing the small business perspective.
Sam Wallace who was appointed by the Governor as the Small Enterprise Officer is working on a strategic plan to implement the Governors Executive Order S-11-06 to foster the greater utilization of Small Business in the states contracting for construction on transportation and highway related projects tied to the Governors Strategic Growth Plan.
The Executive order includes:
Creation of a Small Business Expansion Fund in the amount of $4 million from the Federal Highway Administration to guarantee up to $17 million in loans.
Legislative proposal for establishing a $40 million State Transportation Bonding Guarantee Program to assist small businesses in bidding on transportation projects.
This will be within the Business Transportation and Housing agency but our good friend Dennis Trinidad who is the states Small Business Advocate will also be working on the implementation of this Executive Order.
If you would like more information on this please contact me.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.